Passover

For some 45 0r 50 years we made Pesach in our home. We cleansed the house of chometz and ate only foods that were certified “kosher for Passover.” We conducted a seder the first two nights. Our parents, grandparents, our children and always one or more family members or guests came. I conducted the service and Momma served the foods she had prepared for days. As our family grew, the attendees grew and there were usually at least thirty of us. As we grew older, we attended seders conducted by our children for their children. Because that is really the purpose of the seder; to teach the children that Avodim hoyenu l’Pharoh b’Mitryim: we were slaves to Pharoh in Egypt and to explain how we were brought out by the strong hand and outstretched arm of the Lord.

The service really begins when the young child asks why this night is different than all the other nights. Why can’t we eat challah and Jewish rye (with seeds, of course) and rolls with onions baked through them? Why do we have to eat this tasteless dry matzoh? And why do we have to eat this bitter stuff dipped in salt water instead of peas and corn and baked beans? And what is this charoseth stuff? And how come I don’t have to sit up straight but can lean to the side and relax? And what’s that piece of bone on that plate along with an egg and that other stuff?

Father holds up the piece of matzoh and explains that this is the “bread of affliction” eaten by the Hebrew slaves in Egypt. Joseph had risen from a slave to second in command to Pharoh and had invited his entire family of Hebrews to come to Egypt to live. They were few in numbers at the time. But over the years they prospered and grew. Pharoh died and another Pharoh ruled. He became afraid of the Hebrews; afraid that they would seize power and his throne. So he confiscated their property and enslaved them. The bitter stuff symbolizes the bitter life they led. The salt water symbolizes they tears that they shed. The charoseth symbolizes the mortar that they used to build cities for Pharoh. And we sit leaning and relaxed because that is how free people eat: relaxed and not fearful of the overseer’s whip.

Father goes on to tell how the Lord chose Moses to free the Hebrews and lead them out of Egypt to the “promised land.” How Pharoh refused to “let my people go!” How ten plagues were visited upon the people of Egypt. And how Pharoh agreed to allow the Hebrews to go out of Egypt only after the tenth plague which killed the first born of every living Egyptian and their beasts. That piece of bone is there so that we remember the lamb that was slaughtered and the blood of which was smeared on the door post of each Hebrew home so that the angel of death would “Passover” that home on the night of the killing of the first born. That is why we put a mezuzah on our door post. We remember the ten plagues by spilling a drop of wine for each plague. The Hebrews had to get out in a hurry and did not have time to let the dough rise for the bread that they were making. So they packed it up and carried it in the broiling sun. It baked into the hard stuff we now call matzoh. The egg symbolizes our hope in our children for the future.

Today our children are grown and married and have their own children and grandchildren for whom to conduct a seder. We are gratified to see them gather together to celebrate Passover and when possible, attend their seder. But that’s okay. That is how life progresses and that is how it should be. But we will continue to raise and drink our four glasses of wine and say, “L’chaim. To life!”